George bracket: Orioles (69) defeat Orioles (09) in four games

Game One: 69 Orioles 4, 09 Orioles 3
WP: Cuellar (1-0)
LP: Guthrie (0-1)
Save: D Hall (1)
HR: F Robinson (1), Wigginton (1)

Game Two: 69 Orioles 5, 09 Orioles 2
WP: Watt (1-0)
LP: Meredith (0-1)
Save: Richert (1)
HR: Scott (1), Powell (1)

Game Three: 69 Orioles 9, 09 Orioles 3
WP: Palmer (1-0)
LP: Hendrickson (0-1)
HR: F. Robinson 2 (3), B Robinson (1)

Game Four: 69 Orioles 6, 09 Orioles 2
WP: Phoebus (1-0)
LP: Guthrie (0-2)
HR: Blair (1), F. Robinson (4)

On paper, there was no larger mismatch in the first round than this one, and it played out that way. The 2009 Orioles held just one lead in the series, and that lead lasted just two innings.

Mike Cuellar allowed just five hits in the opener in 1969's Memorial Stadium. Brook Robinson drove home the first run with a double in the second inning; Frank Robinson belted a two-run homer in the seventh. The 09 Orioles got a ninth-inning two-run homer from Ty Wigginton off Dick Hall to make it a one-run loss.

Dave McNally shut out the 09 Birds for six innings in Game Two and drove home a run himself with a safety squeeze bunt. But in the seventh he gave up a homer to Luke Scott and an RBI triple to Brian Roberts to tie the game. Cla Meredith opened the eighth by allowing singles to Davy Johnson and Frank Robinson. George Sherrill entered to face Boog Powell, who promptly homered for the final margin. Pete Richert bailed Eddie Watt out of a ninth-inning jam for the save.

The series moved to Camden Yards for Game Three, and the visitors took control early. Frank Robinson hit a two-run homer in the first. Brooks Robinson cracked a solo shot in the second. Frank Robinson hit another two-run homer in the sixth. Jim Palmer took a shutout into the eighth, and Marcelino Lopez finished it up.

The 09 Orioles brought Jeremy Guthrie back on short rest for the elimination game, and staked him to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Cesar Izturis singled home Scott and Wigginton for the only lead the 09 Birds would hold in the series. Frank Robinson hit his fourth homer of the series in the fourth inning to make it 2-1, and in the fifth the 69 Orioles put up three runs to chase Guthrie -- Elrod Hendricks singled, Mark Belanger walked, Don Buford doubled to tie the game, designated hitter Dave May singled Belanger home for the lead, and Frank Robinson plated Buford with a sac fly. Paul Blair added a two-run homer in the seventh for the final margin. Tom Phoebus went six innings, and Hall and Dave Leonhard combined to face just nine men in the final three innings.

Player of the Series: Frank Robinson hit .467 with four home runs and nine RBIs.

Player availablity: Everyone will be rested for the second round.

Projected rotation: Cuellar-McNally-Palmer-Phoebus-(Cuellar)-(McNally)-(Palmer)